¶ Introduction
This section of the guide will step you through preparing all of the printed parts necessary to assemble the V-Core 4.1. This includes removing any support material, clearing any sacrificial layers, and installing any threaded heat inserts into the printed parts.
If a printed part is not mentioned in this section of the guide, then no preparation steps are needed, and it is ready to use as is.
¶ Step 1 - Tools for this section of the guide
- The following tools are required for this section of the guide:
- A soldering iron
- Heat insert tips for the soldering iron are recommended and will make installation easier
- The V-Core 4 kit uses M2.5 and M3 sized heat inserts
- The following tools are recommended for this section of the guide:
- An electric, or hand drill & drill bits in the sizes of 3mm and 4mm
- A drill, and correctly sized drill bits will help with clearing sacrificial layers on some printed parts
- Cyanoacrylate glue
¶ Step 2 - Tutorial: Installing a heat insert - Part 1
- These steps show how to install a heat insert into the printed parts, the instructions are the same for all heat insert sizes
- Example printed part
- Heat insert
- Insert the thinner end of the heat insert into the printed part hole as shown
- Soldering iron with matching size heat insert tip
- Rat Rig printed parts are made from ABS, it is recommended to set your soldering iron to 265°C to install the heat inserts
- Do not use a temperature higher than 280C as this can cause the ABS to release harmful fumes
- Be careful not to burn yourself
¶ Step 3 - Tutorial: Installing a heat insert - Part 2
- The protrusion on the heat insert tool should align with, and fit inside the heat insert as shown
- Apply gentle downward pressure to guide the heat insert into the printed part
- Keep the soldering iron perpendicular to the printed part, otherwise the insert could end up installed at an angle
- Keep applying downward pressure until the heat insert is flush with the printed part, or even a little recessed into it
- Once the heat insert is fully inserted, gently remove the soldering iron straight upwards
- Be careful not to burn yourself
¶ Step 4 - Tutorial: Installing a heat insert - Part 3
- Installed heat inert
- The heat insert will remain extremely hot for a short time, allow it to fully cool before touching it
- Verify that the heat insert is flush with the printed part, or even a little recessed into it
- If the heat insert is still proud of the printed part, you can use the soldering iron to heat it back up and push it further into the part
¶ Step 5 - Prepare the Z-axis printed parts
- 2x vc4_arm_front (SKU: PP000265)
- 1x vc4_arm_rear (SKU: PP000266)
- 10x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
¶ Step 6 - Prepare the front bed arms
- 1x vc4_arm_front
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare two of these printed parts
¶ Step 7 - Prepare the rear bed arm
- 1x vc4_arm_rear
- 6x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 8 - Prepare the accessory printed parts
- 4x vc4_3060_trim_diffuser (SKU: PP000333)
- 4x vc4_3060_trim_front (SKU: PP000323)
- 4x vc4_3060_trim_rear (SKU: PP000324)
- 1x vc4_y_endstop_mount (SKU: PP000278)
- 1x vc4_umbilical_frame (SKU: PP000283)
- 1x vc4_xy_trim_left (SKU: PP000295)
- 1x vc4_xy_trim_right (SKU: PP000296)
- 23x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
¶ Step 9 - Prepare the 3060 trim fronts - Part 1
- 1x vc4_3060_trim_front
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare four of these printed parts
¶ Step 10 - Prepare the 3060 trim fronts - Part 2
- 1x 3030 trim front assembly from the previous step
- Cyanoacrylate glue
- Apply a drop of cyanoacrylate glue in the spots marked
- 1x vc4_3060_trim_diffuser
- Insert the vc4_3060_trim_diffuser into the 3060 trim front as shown
- Apply a gentle downward pressure on the diffuser for a minute to allow the cyanoacrylate glue to set
- Prepare four of these printed parts
¶ Step 11 - Prepare the 3060 trim rears
- 1x vc4_3060_trim_rear
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare four of these printed parts
¶ Step 12 - Prepare the Y-axis endstop mount
- 1x vc4_y_endstop_mount
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 13 - Prepare the umbilical frame mount
- 1x vc4_umbilical_frame
- 1x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into the marked hole
¶ Step 14 - Prepare the left XY trim
- 1x vc4_xy_trim_left
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 15 - Prepare the right XY trim
- 1x vc4_xy_trim_right
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 16 - Prepare the LED frame mount parts
- 4x vc4_led_holder_frame (SKU: PP000391)
- 4x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
¶ Step 17 - Prepare the LED frame mounts
- 1x vc4_led_holder_frame
- 1x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into the marked hole
- Prepare four of these parts
¶ Step 18 - Prepare the toolhead printed parts
- 1x rr_toolhead_vc41_front (SKU: PP000401)
- 1x rr_toolhead_vc41_duct (SKU: PP000402)
- 15x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
¶ Step 19 - Prepare the toolhead front - Part 1
- 1x rr_toolhead_vc41_front
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 20 - Prepare the toolhead front - Part 2
- 1x Front assembly from the previous step
- 5x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 21 - Prepare the toolhead duct - Part 1
- 1x rr_toolhead_vc41_duct
- 5x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 22 - Prepare the toolhead duct - Part 2
- 1x Duct assembly from the previous step
- 3x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 23 - Next steps
- If you are building a CoreXY or Hybrid variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please continue following the next steps
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please repeat step 18 through to step 22 to prepare a second set of toolhead printed parts
¶ Step 24 - Prepare the electronics mounting printed parts
- 2x vc4_adapter_octopus (SKU: PP000301)
- 1x vc4_adapter_rpi (SKU: PP000302)
- 1x vc41_adapter_rpi_o2s_usb (SKU: PP000404)
- 14x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
- 4x M2.5 heat insert (SKU: HW3776NC)
¶ Step 25 - Prepare the Octopus mounts
- 1x vc4_adapter_octopus
- 4x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare two of these printed parts
¶ Step 26 - Prepare the left Raspberry Pi mount
- 1x vc4_adapter_rpi
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- 2x M2.5 heat insert
- Install an M2.5 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Remember to change the heat insert tip in the soldering iron for the correct size when swapping between M2.5 and M3
- Allow the soldering iron to cool before changing the tips
¶ Step 27 - Prepare the right Raspberry Pi mount
- 1x vc41_adapter_rpi_o2s_usb
- 2x M2.5 heat insert
- Install an M2.5 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- 4x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Remember to change the heat insert tip in the soldering iron for the correct size when swapping between M2.5 and M3
- Allow the soldering iron to cool before changing the tips
¶ Step 28 - Prepare the electronics enclosure printed parts
- 1x vc4_cable_guide_cross (SKU: PP000306)
- 1x vc4_cable_guide_4 (SKU: PP000304)
- 3x vc4_cable_guide_5 (SKU: PP000305)
- 4x vc4_electronics_1.2_corner (SKU: PP000352)
- 38x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
¶ Step 29 - Prepare the four position cable guide
- 1x vc4_cable_guide_4
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 30 - Prepare the five position cable guide
- 1x vc4_cable_guide_5
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare three of these printed parts
¶ Step 31 - Prepare the cross cable guide
- 1x vc4_cable_guide_cross
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 32 - Prepare the electronics enclosure corners - Part 1
- 1x vc4_electronics_1.2_corner
- 3x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare four of these printed parts
¶ Step 33 - Prepare the electronics enclosure corners - Part 2
- 1x Electronics enclosure corner from the previous step
- 4x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare four of these printed parts
¶ Step 34 - Prepare the Z-axis constraint parts
- 3x vc41_z_constraint (SKU: PP000406)
¶ Step 35 - Prepare the Z-axis constraints
- The V-Core 4.1 Z-axis constraints are printed with support material. It is important to remove it if it is still present
- Sometimes the support material is separated from the part during production or packaging, so do not worry if it is not present
- 1x vc41_z_constraint with support material
- Support material
- Carefully pull the support material from the printed part as shown
- Prepared Z-axis constraint
- Make sure that all of the support material is removed and that the underside of the part looks as shown
- Prepare three of these printed parts
¶ Step 36 - Next steps
- If you are building a CoreXY variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please skip the remainder of this guide and move on to the Frame Assembly
- If you are building a Hybrid or IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please continue following the next steps
¶ Step 37 - Prepare the hybrid printed parts
- 2x vc4_y_belt_clamp_body (SKU: PP000275)
- 6x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
¶ Step 38 - Prepare the hybrid belt grabbers
- 1x vc4_y_belt_clamp_body
- 3x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
- Prepare two of these printed parts
¶ Step 39 - Next steps
- If you are building a CoreXY or Hybrid variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please skip the remainder of this guide and move on to the Frame Assembly
- If you are building an IDEX variant of the V-Core 4.1, then please continue following the next steps
¶ Step 40 - Prepare the VAOC printed parts
- 1x vc4_vaoc_body (SKU: PP000355)
- 1x vc4_vaoc_diffusor (SKU: PP000358)
- 6x M3 heat insert (SKU: HW3224NC)
¶ Step 41 - Prepare the VAOC body
- 1x vc4_vaoc_body
- 4x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 42 - Prepare the VAOC diffusor
- 1x vc4_vaoc_diffusor
- 2x M3 heat insert
- Install an M3 heat insert into each of the marked holes
¶ Step 43 - Next guide
- All of the printed parts are now prepared and will be used throughout the remainder of the assembly guide
- Continue to the next guide: Frame Assembly